Description

On the 1st May 1707, under the Act of Union, Parliament merged the Kingdom of England with the Kingdom of Scotland thus forming an entirely new state – the Kingdom of Great Britain. To mark the 300th Anniversary of this historical milestone, Pobjoy Mint is delighted to present an exceptional new coloured uncirculated cupro nickel collector's coin and it is quite fitting that it should be released on behalf of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Government since the islands came under British control at the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, when they were captured by Sir William Stapleton and annexed to the Government of the Leeward Islands by King Charles II of England.

A portrait of Queen Anne graces the centre of this commemorative coin and the National emblems of England appear on her left - the Lion, Rose and Saint George’s flag and the National emblems of Scotland appear on her right - the Unicorn, Thistle and Saint Andrew’s flag. The original Union Flag of 1606, which dates back to the regal union between England and Scotland when James VI Kings of Scots was crowned King James I of England, appears at the bottom of the design.

Available in Uncirculated Cupro Nickel and Proof Sterling Silver, the precious metal version has been struck four times to achieve the lustrous Pobjoy proof finish. In addition these coins are also available in coloured versions with the three flags appearing in the glorious combinations of red, white and blue which portray the original 1606 Union, St George’s and St Andrew’s flags.

Throughout the 17th century, several attempts had been made to unite the Kingdoms of Scotland and England however mistrust between the two countries had prevented a common accord. Where England feared the Scots would strike an alliance with France, the Scots were fearful of becoming merely ‘another’ region of England. Since the Union of the Crowns in 1603, both countries had shared a monarch but retained sovereign parliaments. Following the signing of the Act of Union on 16th January 1707, both parliaments were dissolved and replaced with a new Parliament of Great Britain which took residence in Westminster, the former home of the English Parliament and a new state was proclaimed – the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Queen Anne who had reigned as Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland since the 8th March 1702 was subsequently given a new title for the combined monarchies and she became the first sovereign of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Queen of Ireland.

Approved by Buckingham Palace the obverse of this coin carries a fine effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS FSNAD. These coins were originally issued in Unc. Cupro Nickel, Proof Sterling Silver and Fine Proof 999.9 1/5oz Gold.